and I thought you weren't going to join this discussion!
It is unbelievable that anyone would consider writing "I am" in formal writing. Surely one would use something similar to the following: "This author's situation is one of", "The role of the investiture is" or "The writer is experiencing".
Please note that I'm being slightly tongue in cheek, though I have heard similar advice from art students in how they write their essays.
You're illustrating the established grammatical exception for the verb "to be", namely, that it doesn't take an object.
I agree, but as grammar is not routinely learned in present times, this rule mainly survives only in useage rather than in understanding, I think its likely to become anachronistic. Sadly.
The most important thing is surely not to follow rules about style but to get your message across.
Well, that's contentious! Vaery contentious!
You've just assumed that languages have a rational function, and that it's driven by intention.
There are several other functions being served, some not rational, some only operating at a societal level, describing a common picture of the world and of our attitudes.
Some are purely expressive and don't require any grammar at all.
I won't contine here, but I just
had to disagree.
Interestingly, while we're on the subject of grammar, despite what most people would think, "ain't I?" is grammatically correct while "aren't I?" is not.
Can't say I noticed your response to my "amn't I".
But I'm puzzled as to how "correct" or "incorrect" can be applied to these contractions.
